Fill pipe box



Dec 2, 1941.

E. M. KLING FILL PIPE BOX Filed Aug. 31, 1939 f 25 mr N2 t 3 @M :la ll QPatented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED YSTATES PTE QFFICE.

FILL PIPE BOX Elmer M. Kling, Newton Center, Mass.

Application August 31, 1939, Serial No. 292,795 (o1. 22o-s6) v 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a lill pipe box of the so-called slip type.Such lill pipe boxes are extensively employedto cover and protect theinlet end of a fill pipe leading to a tank or reservoir of gasoline orother fluid located in the ground and find a large use in connectionwith filling stations. The fill pipe box is embedded in the ground orother base and usually in a base of concrete or cement with the top ofthe box flush with the surface. The tank containing the gasoline orother fluid is located in the ground and a fill pipe leads therefrominto the fill pipe box. The inlet end of the lill pipe is usuallyprovided with a removable cover and the tank is filled by removing thecover of the lill box, the cover of the lill pipe and connecting a hosefrom the tank wagon to the lill pipe.

Owing to changing temperature and to settling or variations in the soilor other conditions, it is desirable to provide for a relativelongitudinal movement between the fill pipe box and lill pipe.

The present invention has for its object to provide a ll pipe box of theslip type which will permit this required relative longitudinal movementbut which will at the same time provide a water-tight joint between thelill pipe box and fill pipe and in which the means for securing thiswater-tight slip joint is entirely within and enclosed by the box and isadjustable and repairable from within the box and is thus always readilyaccessible. Thus any danger of water collecting in the lill pipe bypassing up through the space between the two is prevented. If such acollection of water should occur and freeze, it not only would renderdiflicult the filling operation but it would break or damage the lillpipe box. If it remained liquid, unless great care were used, it wouldpass into the lill pipe upon the removal of the covers and mix with thegasoline or other fiuid which, of course, is detrimental.

The invention has for its further object to provide lubricating meanswithin and enclosed by the box for maintaining at all times theeffective condition of the water-tight joint.

poses of the invention will vappear more fully from the accompanyingdescription and drawing and will be particularly pointed out in theclaim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in verticalcross section taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2 showing a preferred formof the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the construction shown in Fig. 1 with theclover of the fill pipe box removed. n

Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical cross section taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2.

The drawing illustrates simple and preferred forms of constructionembodying the .invention as used in connection with a gasoline supplytank or reservoir located below the surface of the ground. A portion ofsuch a tank I is shown as provided with a lill pipe 2 extending upwardtherefrom to adjacent the surface 3 of the ground or other base, whichin this case is indicated in dotted lines as a bed 4 of cement orconcrete. 'I'he lill pipe is shown as provided with an upper end section5 which may be made of different material from the main pipe andfinished to present a smooth, cylindrical exterior surface. This endsection is united to the main pipe by any suitable coupling 6. 'Iheinlet end of the lill pipe is provided with a suitable removable cover Iherein shown as threaded thereto.

The lill pipe box is of the usual cup shape litting over the lill pipeend section 5 surrounding and protecting the inlet end of the lill pipeand provided with the removable cover 8 and interposed gasket 9 to forma water-tight joint at the top. The cover and upper end of the lill pipebox is desirably made iiush with the surface 3 of the ground or otherbase in which it is located.

In order to secure a firm anchoring of the lill pipe box in the base,there is provided, in addi- The invention has for its further object toprovide in combination with a fill pipe box embodying the invention aseparable upper section of the lill pipe cooperating therewith to insurethe required water-tight joint while permitting the required relativelongitudinal movement.

While the invention is useful under various conditions, it isparticularly useful in a cold climate where low temperature or freezingconditions frequently occur.

tion to the usual projecting lugs l0, one or more, in the caseillustrated two, apertured ears II rigid with the side wall of the boxand projecting exteriorly therefrom and a long bar I2 extending throughthe aperture in each ear. Thus, notwithstanding any irregularity in theconstitution of the base, whether of cement, concrete or other form, thefill pipe box is lirmly anchored so as to maintain its upper surfaceflush with the surface of the base.

The lill pipe box at its lower end presents an inner concentric.shoulder I3 and this shoulder lits closely against the lill pipe endsection. A suitable packing I4 rests upon-this shoulder to The statedobjects and other objects and pursurround and engage the ll pipe endsection. A

gland l5 is adjustably secured to the box above the shoulder and acts toforce the packing against the fill pipe to fonn a water-tight joint. Asimple means for thus securing the gland to the fill pipe box andproviding for thus adjustably forcing the packing against the ll pipeend section is shown as a plurality of cap screws I6 passing through aflange on the gland and threaded into the bottom of the ll pipe box andoperable from their upper ends within the box.

It is essential that the packing I4 shall be kept in effective conditionso as not to become dry and hard. This packing may be of any suitablematerial capable of being maintained soft and flexible by lubrication.To maintain its effective conf dition means are provided for supplyinglubricant thereto. In the form illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, a tubeIT is mounted in the gland i5' and communicates through a hole I8drilled therein with the packing and extends upward from the gland toadjacent the top of the ll box where it is provided with a suitablefitting I9. The interior of the ll box is usually provided with aplurality of inwardly extending verticalV ribs 20 and this tube Il isconveniently extended up alongside one of these ribs and secured theretonear its upper end by a staple or other connection 2i. Thus thislubricant supplying means is located entirely within and is enclosed andprotected by the box.

The removable cover 'l of the ll pipe is shown as provided with a usualtype of locking device consisting of an arm 24 hinged thereto at 25,fitting over an apertured lug 26 on the cover and having a projectingend 21 extending radially past the ribs 20 so that when a padlock isfastened in the apertured lug 26, the cover cannot be unscrewed byreason of the end 2l coming into engagement with one 0f the ribs 20.

There is thus presented a simple and eicient construction for carryingout the objects and purposes of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

A fill pipe box of the slip type, wherein the box is embedded in theground or other base and Iits over a ll pipe having its inlet within andprotected by the box and wherein slip or relative longitudinal movementbetween the ll pipe and the box is required, comprising an innerconcentric shoulder at the lower end of the box, packing on the saidshoulder located within the box for surrounding and engaging the ll pipewhen projecting into the box and removable and replaceable from theinterior of the box,\a gland within the box and adjustably secured tothe box above the shoulder and operable from within the box to force thepacking .against the ll pipe to form a water-tight joint Whilepermitting relative longitudinal movement between the box and the llpipe and a tube communicating at its lower end with the packing andextending upward entirely within and enclosed by the box to adjacent thetop thereof and secured to the Wall of the box for supplying lubricantto the packing to maintain its effective condition.

ELMER M. KLIN G.

